Fontana residents should not be concerned about Fontana Police Department officers acting as immigration officers, nor should they be concerned about police checkpoints near school sites during school hours, said Fontana Police Chief Rod Jones.

“We don’t enforce immigration laws on the streets; it is the Sheriff’s Department that enforces them in jails only, and after careful investigation,” said Jones. “We don’t go out stopping immigrants based on the color of their skin. People should not be concerned about this. We have an excellent relationship with the community and we want to keep it that way.”

Jones’ reaction came after two local organizations and some members of the general public claimed that people were been harassed during checkpoints held near school sites on school hours — thus “terrorizing” the immigrant community of Fontana by “racial profiling.”

These arguments were voiced on Oct. 28 during a Fontana City Council meeting by members of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) and the San Bernardino Community Service Center.

“We have held one checkpoint near a school site, but it was not during school hours, it was in fact after 6 p.m.,” said Jones. “Regarding racial profiling, it is against the law, and if somebody complains about it, we immediately open an investigation.”

Jones said that complaints about racial profiling seldom happen. However, Bobby Jo Chavarria, a Fontana resident and member of ACORN, said that not having complaints does not mean it is not happening.

“They want to believe it is not happening, but we all know it does occur and is more common than one may think,” said Chavarria.

Despite being illegal in some states, the Fontana P.D. will continue to hold DUI checkpoints with the goal of stopping drunk drivers before “they commit accidents,” officials said. In some states checkpoints are prohibited because they supposedly violate the Fourth Amendment; however, in California they are implemented regularly thanks to state grants.

In fact, Jones announced in a news release that the Fontana P.D. has been awarded a new traffic safety grant for a year-long anti-DUI program aimed at preventing deaths and injuries on the city’s roadways.

New enforcement measures to combat impaired driving are coming as a result of a recent 0,000 grant awarded by the California Office of Traffic Safety to the City of Fontana. The Fontana P.D. is dedicated to keeping streets safe through both enforcement and education, said Jones.

“Through this grant, the Fontana P.D. will be able to commit even more resources toward combating impaired driving in our community. This will make the City of Fontana an even safer community for our citizens and visitors alike,” said Jones.

The grant activities will specifically target impaired driving offenders as well as educate the public on the dangers of impaired driving. This will be done through the use of DUI/driver’s license checkpoints, warrant searches and stakeouts for repeat DUI offenders, saturation patrols, and court stings targeting DUI offenders with suspended or revoked driver licenses who get behind the wheel after leaving court, Jones said.

Drunk driving is one of the country’s deadliest crimes. In 2008, more than 11,700 people died in highway crashes involving a driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.

Opponents of DUI checkpoints claim that they are an excuse to “attack” a community because they are allegedly held in areas heavily populated by Hispanics.

“The main reason is money. Police departments make money by confiscating vehicles. In some cities, checkpoints arrest two or three intoxicated drivers but confiscate hundreds of vehicles,” said Emilio Amaya, executive director of the San Bernardino Community Service Center. “They are profitable and seldom held in rich areas.”

Despite Jones’ assurances, some residents remain concerned about the potential for racial profiling, especially now that the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors recently extended the 287 (g) program, which allows police to act as immigration officers.
http://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/articles/2009/11/12/news/doc4afc51b23a8c7172986372.txt